20 things to know about Steve Alford

20 things to know about Steve Alford

1 of 21

He’s been the leader of the New Mexico Lobos for the past six seasons, but how much do you really know about Steve Alford. Check out these 20 facts about the successful head coach.

2 of 21

1. Red or Green? Coach Alford said “I learned that from day one, both! You know some of our players say red and some say green. I learned from the press conference to say both. Now that I’ve been here six years, I think it is both. I think it depends on the meal, the restaurant, the day. Sometimes red is too hot, sometimes green is too hot and sometimes they’re both just right.”

3 of 21

2. In a KOAT.com poll conducted the day Steve Alford was introduced as head coach, only 55 percent of viewers approved of his hiring.

4 of 21

In a KOAT.com poll conducted this year, more than 70 percent of viewers said they think Steve Alford is the best coach in New Mexico Lobos history.

5 of 21

3. As far as win percentage, Steve Alford is the most successful coach in Lobos History. His .748 winning percentage is better than Bob King (.663), Dave Bliss (.695) and Norm Ellenberger (.684)

5. Alford’s four conference championships with the New Mexico Lobos are more than he had in his prior 16 seasons with other schools.

8 of 21

6. Alford was born November 23, 1964. Billy the Kid, Miley Cirus and Snooki were also born on Nov. 23.

Advertisement

9 of 21

7. In 2011, Alford banned his players from tweeting. Players, however, are allowed to have Facebook accounts.

10 of 21

9. Alford has never coached for school for longer than eight seasons. This is his sixth season as Lobos head coach.

11 of 21

10. Alford is married to the former Tanya Frost, whom he has known since the two were schoolmates in grade school in New Castle. They have three children Bryce, Kory and Kayla.

12 of 21

11. Kory currently plays for the Lobos and Bryce will join the team next season. This season, more than half a dozen fathers are coaching their sons the ranks of college basketball.

13 of 21

12. Alford earned Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award in 1983. In that season he averaged 37.7 points per game.

14 of 21

13. Alford was a part of the U.S. 1984 Olympic team which won the gold medal. Alford finished fourth in scoring behind Michael Jordan, Chris Mullin and Patrick Ewing even though he was the smallest and youngest player on the team.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Steve Lipofski

15 of 21

14. Alford started 120 games for legendary Head Coach Bobby Knight, which included a stint as captain during the school’s national championship run in 1987.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Turett Holmes

16 of 21

15. Alford played in the NBA from 1987 to 1991, spending time with the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors.

PHOTO: NBA

Advertisement

17 of 21

16. Alford’s seniors have performed very well in the classroom. He has graduated 11 of the 12 seniors that have played for him.

18 of 21

17. Coach Alford has only been ejected once from a basketball game. It happened earlier this season at St. Louis. “I called timeout three times, finally got the timeout. And I said, ‘That was a foul.’ I got T-ed up. I said ‘That’s still a foul,’ and I got my second technical, so I left the game.”

19 of 21

18. Despite all of his accomplishments, Alford said he never attained one of his largest childhood goals -- to win a state championship playing for his father. Alford told the FCA in 2007 “So I really failed at the one thing I was really driven mentally to achieve.”

20 of 21

19. Earlier this year, ESPN tabbed Steve Alford as one of 10 coaches likely to win 900 career games. He has more than 400 wins now.

He’s been the leader of the New Mexico Lobos for the past six seasons, but how much do you really know about Steve Alford. Check out these 20 facts about the successful head coach.

1. Red or Green? Coach Alford said “I learned that from day one, both! You know some of our players say red and some say green. I learned from the press conference to say both. Now that I’ve been here six years, I think it is both. I think it depends on the meal, the restaurant, the day. Sometimes red is too hot, sometimes green is too hot and sometimes they’re both just right.”

2. In a KOAT.com poll conducted the day Steve Alford was introduced as head coach, only 55 percent of viewers approved of his hiring.

In a KOAT.com poll conducted this year, more than 70 percent of viewers said they think Steve Alford is the best coach in New Mexico Lobos history.

3. As far as win percentage, Steve Alford is the most successful coach in Lobos History. His .748 winning percentage is better than Bob King (.663), Dave Bliss (.695) and Norm Ellenberger (.684)

5. Alford’s four conference championships with the New Mexico Lobos are more than he had in his prior 16 seasons with other schools.

6. Alford was born November 23, 1964. Billy the Kid, Miley Cirus and Snooki were also born on Nov. 23.

7. In 2011, Alford banned his players from tweeting. Players, however, are allowed to have Facebook accounts.

9. Alford has never coached for school for longer than eight seasons. This is his sixth season as Lobos head coach.

10. Alford is married to the former Tanya Frost, whom he has known since the two were schoolmates in grade school in New Castle. They have three children Bryce, Kory and Kayla.

11. Kory currently plays for the Lobos and Bryce will join the team next season. This season, more than half a dozen fathers are coaching their sons the ranks of college basketball.

12. Alford earned Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award in 1983. In that season he averaged 37.7 points per game.

13. Alford was a part of the U.S. 1984 Olympic team which won the gold medal. Alford finished fourth in scoring behind Michael Jordan, Chris Mullin and Patrick Ewing even though he was the smallest and youngest player on the team.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Steve Lipofski

14. Alford started 120 games for legendary Head Coach Bobby Knight, which included a stint as captain during the school’s national championship run in 1987.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Turett Holmes

15. Alford played in the NBA from 1987 to 1991, spending time with the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors.

PHOTO: NBA

16. Alford’s seniors have performed very well in the classroom. He has graduated 11 of the 12 seniors that have played for him.

17. Coach Alford has only been ejected once from a basketball game. It happened earlier this season at St. Louis. “I called timeout three times, finally got the timeout. And I said, ‘That was a foul.’ I got T-ed up. I said ‘That’s still a foul,’ and I got my second technical, so I left the game.”

18. Despite all of his accomplishments, Alford said he never attained one of his largest childhood goals -- to win a state championship playing for his father. Alford told the FCA in 2007 “So I really failed at the one thing I was really driven mentally to achieve.”

19. Earlier this year, ESPN tabbed Steve Alford as one of 10 coaches likely to win 900 career games. He has more than 400 wins now.

He’s been the leader of the New Mexico Lobos for the past six seasons, but how much do you really know about Steve Alford. Check out these 20 facts about the successful head coach.

1. Red or Green? Coach Alford said “I learned that from day one, both! You know some of our players say red and some say green. I learned from the press conference to say both. Now that I’ve been here six years, I think it is both. I think it depends on the meal, the restaurant, the day. Sometimes red is too hot, sometimes green is too hot and sometimes they’re both just right.”

2. In a KOAT.com poll conducted the day Steve Alford was introduced as head coach, only 55 percent of viewers approved of his hiring.

In a KOAT.com poll conducted this year, more than 70 percent of viewers said they think Steve Alford is the best coach in New Mexico Lobos history.

3. As far as win percentage, Steve Alford is the most successful coach in Lobos History. His .748 winning percentage is better than Bob King (.663), Dave Bliss (.695) and Norm Ellenberger (.684)

5. Alford’s four conference championships with the New Mexico Lobos are more than he had in his prior 16 seasons with other schools.

6. Alford was born November 23, 1964. Billy the Kid, Miley Cirus and Snooki were also born on Nov. 23.

7. In 2011, Alford banned his players from tweeting. Players, however, are allowed to have Facebook accounts.

9. Alford has never coached for school for longer than eight seasons. This is his sixth season as Lobos head coach.

10. Alford is married to the former Tanya Frost, whom he has known since the two were schoolmates in grade school in New Castle. They have three children Bryce, Kory and Kayla.

11. Kory currently plays for the Lobos and Bryce will join the team next season. This season, more than half a dozen fathers are coaching their sons the ranks of college basketball.

12. Alford earned Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award in 1983. In that season he averaged 37.7 points per game.

13. Alford was a part of the U.S. 1984 Olympic team which won the gold medal. Alford finished fourth in scoring behind Michael Jordan, Chris Mullin and Patrick Ewing even though he was the smallest and youngest player on the team.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Steve Lipofski

14. Alford started 120 games for legendary Head Coach Bobby Knight, which included a stint as captain during the school’s national championship run in 1987.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Turett Holmes

15. Alford played in the NBA from 1987 to 1991, spending time with the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors.

PHOTO: NBA

16. Alford’s seniors have performed very well in the classroom. He has graduated 11 of the 12 seniors that have played for him.

17. Coach Alford has only been ejected once from a basketball game. It happened earlier this season at St. Louis. “I called timeout three times, finally got the timeout. And I said, ‘That was a foul.’ I got T-ed up. I said ‘That’s still a foul,’ and I got my second technical, so I left the game.”

18. Despite all of his accomplishments, Alford said he never attained one of his largest childhood goals -- to win a state championship playing for his father. Alford told the FCA in 2007 “So I really failed at the one thing I was really driven mentally to achieve.”

19. Earlier this year, ESPN tabbed Steve Alford as one of 10 coaches likely to win 900 career games. He has more than 400 wins now.

20. Alford is an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers

PHOTO: WTAE

20 things to know about Steve Alford

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 12:30 AM MDT Mar 13, 2013

Advertisement

He’s been the leader of the New Mexico Lobos for the past six seasons, but how much do you really know about Steve Alford. Check out these 20 facts about the successful head coach.